ANCESTRAL Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

ancestral

adjective

Definition of ancestral

as in historic

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ancestral The film centers on a boy packed off from the city to his family’s ancestral village. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 The books below will satisfy your bog witch cravings, while also reminding you of the real-world importance of bogs as bulwarks against climate change, cradles of biodiversity, and keepers of ancestral memory. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 Jebel Saghro is the ancestral homeland of Telhou’s people, the Aït Atta, a historically powerful Berber (or Amazigh, which means free people) tribe in southeast Morocco. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 Chuuraa Evgenia Arbugaeva (UK 2026, 18 min) A Sakha scientist journeys into Siberia’s melting permafrost, where the past emerges alongside ancestral beliefs. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ancestral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancestral

Adjective

Police on Tuesday arrested a suspect in the arson attack that charred the historic city hall in Limoges, in central France, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, adding that the person may not have acted alone.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
On Saturday alone, at least 2,400 people were arrested after rioters in cities across France clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings, looted stores and engulfed a historic city hall in flames.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of historic

Adjective

At The Aster, a boutique hotel and members club in Hollywood, guests can begin the day with classes in the reformer Pilates studio, where old-world dark wood and ornamental columns are paired with high-tech apparatus.

— Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
Hiller plays Aldrict, an old-world vampire who has crossed paths with Liz several times over the centuries and is a bit of a troublemaker.

— Peter White, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of old-world

Adjective

Even the climbing-vine wallpaper is yellowed, as if gradually discolored by the cigarettes of a thousand ancient Sundays.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Madrid sits on an ancient migration route that has always been part of a vast grid of farming paths covering the Iberian Peninsula.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

Maine didn’t have the typical music scenes of the Midwest or West Coast and his old-time hobby of busking felt moot with everyone cooped up inside their homes.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026
The docent, red glasses in hand, slumps against the old-time cannon.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of old-time

Adjective

The couple took pains to preserve historical details like the house's original wooden shutters.

— Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
City outlines restrictions on camera use In its statement, the city said officers must enter an offense type and associated case number when conducting historical ALPR searches as part of investigations.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of historical

Adjective

Prosecutors say Morgan is also charged as a habitual offender, fourth offense.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
On the other, evidence suggests this pair of habitual time-wasters were commonly found on the floor, running laughter through a Yamaha SPX90 effects processor for kicks and strumming the same note for 40-odd minutes.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of habitual

Adjective

An album-length EP by the 20-year-old producer is a dizzying and boundless collage of collages, using free-jazz logic and digital overload to chart new emotional terrain.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and supporter of Bolsonaro, said another Lula government would harm the economy.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of old

Browse Nearby Words

ancestors

ancestral

ancestress

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“Ancestral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancestral. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ancestral

adjective

Example Sentences

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